OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
SOUTH TAMA COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on January 15, 2024 for a Regular Session at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa at 5:00 p.m. with members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen. Absent: Beth Wiese. Quorum Present. Beth Wiese joined the meetings at 5:01 p.m. and left the meeting at 6:38 p.m. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the agenda with the removal of Reports 1. High School. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the January 3, 2024 regular meeting, minutes from the January 10, 2024 Board work session, bills for payment, and Scanlan Center Agreement. The motion carried.
Public Comment - None
Katie Mathern, Director of Finance, gave the Board a budget overview.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Tiffany Fouts - Part-time Special Education Paraeducator (4 days/week)
Resignations: Brittani West - Middle School Paraeducator
Officials: HS Basketball - Steve Allman, Cody Oakes, and Chris Shaw
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the resolution ordering election on the question of levying and imposing a voter approved physical plant and equipment property tax and income surtax. Ayes: Dolezal, Wiese, Ellenbecker, Hopper, and Thiessen. Nays: None. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the Donovan Group communication proposal, in the amount of $2,500 per month, for communication services to inform the community of the upcoming PPEL vote. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Garling Construction pay application 04, in the amount of $818,467.87, for construction services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the ISG invoice, in the amount of $15,000.00, for construction administration and close-out. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the Terracon invoice, in the amount of $8,720.75, for observation and testing. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve Rick Hopper as the STC School Board representative for the Tama County Conference Board. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Thiessen to approve the second reading of the following policies: 102 E1 - Equal Educational Opportunity - Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination (Revised) and 402.03 - Abuse of Students by School District Employees (Formerly Known As (FKA) 403.02). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the third reading of the following policies: 407.05 - Licensed Employee Reduction in Force; 413.05 - Classified Employee Reduction in Force, 501.03 - Compulsory Attendance; 503.08 R1 - Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence or Cause Incidents of Violence - Student Threats of Violence and Incidents of Violence; 505.08 - Parent and Family Engagement District - Wide Policy (Formerly Parental Involvement); 705.01-R1 - Purchasing-Bidding-Suspension and Debarment of Vendors and Contracts Procedure (New); 705.04-R1 - Expenditures for a Public Purpose - Use of Public Fund Regulation (New); and 707.05-R1 - Internal Controls - Procedures (New). All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board discussed the 2024-2025 budget restructure and timeline.
The Board reviewed the Strengthening Center Contract on file and would like to discuss it further with them.
Mr. Cain gave the Board a facilities update. The goal is to continue to create the District’s facility plans with a considerable amount of input aside from administration.
Mr. Cain reported the new middle school is heated now for the contractors to work in.
Mr. Cain gave a legislative update. Governor Reynolds outlined her priorities for the upcoming session in her Condition of the State address, including: supporting a strong teacher pipeline through recruitment and retention, strengthening early literacy and evidence-based reading instruction, narrowing and closing achievement gaps experienced by students with disabilities, and empowering students with multiple pathways to postsecondary success. In addition, the Governor announced a major cut to the AEA services, resulting in a potential negative impact on STC.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 6:42 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary